Cuff links



May 12, 1959- w. H. MEEKER 2,885,756

CUFF LINKS Filed March 23, 1954 F I G. I. '2

24 ,Zhven for WilliumHMeeker United States Patent CUFF LINKS William H. Meeker, Rochester, N.Y., assiguor to Hickok Manufacturing Co. Inc., Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York 1 Application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,154

7 Claims. 01. 24-97 This invention relates generally to the class of buttons. and is directed particularly to improvements in cufi buttons or cuif links.

In applying cuif buttons or cuff links to a cufl. considerable difliculty is frequently encountered in forcing one element of the button through the cult button hole, particularly when the button or link is applied after the shirt has been put on. Where the shirt is of the dress type, the cufls are usually starched to a very stiff condition so that the button hole is closed tightly and considerable effort is required to force an element of the cult link or button through the hole or, where the shirt has French cufis, a considerable manipulation of the cuff link or button is required to extend an element thereof through 'the four layers of material of which the cut]? is made up and, as previously stated, where the shirt may have first been put on before the cult buttons or links are attached, the difliculty of getting the button in or through the button hole is greatly increased due tothe fact that only one hand is free for use, the other hand having to be used to hold the cufii in position.

In the light of the foregoing, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a new and novel type of cult link which is so designed that the portion thereof which must be extended through the button hole of the cuff, can be so extended through the button hole Patented May 12, 1959 2 the post end is inserted into the button hole, it will pass. through smoothly and the anchoring wings will be forced rearwardly to also pass smoothly through the hole without endangering the stitching or cuff material.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a head portion to which is secured one end of a post or stem, the other or outer end of which is rounded to facilitate its passing through a button hole.

The post is provided with a through recess which extends through the major portion of the length thereof 7 and the outer end of the recess is a substantial distance from positions in which they extend laterally of the post.

without difl'iculty by the use of one hand only even after the shirt has been put on.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cult button which, as above stated, can be easily and quickly secured to a end or have a portion easily and quickly extended through the cufi button hole, with a new and novel means for efiecting the automatic anchoring of the button to the cuff after the hole penetrating portion has been extended through the button hole.

It is known that a number of diiierent types of culf links or cuff buttons have heretofore been provided wherein there is employed a rigid post carrying pivoted wing members which are designed to assume a laterally extending position with respect to the post after the latter has been extended through the cufi button holes. However, in these prior devices, the association of the anchoring wings and post is such that the smooth and easy penetration of the post and the wings through the button hole is not possible and, further, the means by which the wings are joined to the post is such that the edges of the button hole are subjected to considerable rough treatment in extending the posts and wings through the button hole so that the button hole stitching readily wears and is easily broken or may be caught and broken on the end of the post as it is passed therethrough. It is, accordingly, a still further object of the present invention to provide a new type of cutf button or link employing a rigid post attached to a head and having a free end designed to facilitate its smooth extension through the button hole, with anchoring wings pivotally .icarried by the post inwardlyof such. end whereby when and in alignment transversely thereof to positions in which they are substantially parallel with the post and are substantially completely housed in the recess. A spring means connecting the wings with the post constantly urges the wings to swing to the laterally extended or open position and their movement under the urge of the spring means is limited by new and novel means, which comprises either the engagement of the back portions of the Wings with adjacent portions of the post forming the end of the recess or the butting together of the ends of the wings, or both together. With this con= struction, when the rounded free end of the post is forced into and through a button hole, it will smoothly enter the latter and the back portions of the wings will then be brought into engagement with the material of the end at the sides of the button hole and the wings will be swung to closed position so that the post and wings can pass freely through the button hole. When the wing carrying post has moved to the necessary extent through the button hole, the spring biased wings will be forced outwardly so that they will extend transversely of the button hole and thus anchor the button or link in position. Removal of the button from the button hole is easily effected by depressing the wings with the thumb and forefinger and then backing the post out through the button hole.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in A connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of one side of a French cult on a shirt sleeve showing the application thereto of a cuff button or link constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the cuff with a portion broken away and illustrating the automatically assumed position of the cuff link anchoring means after the post has been extended through a button hole or holes at one side of the cult.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the manner in which the wings are closed for the purpose of extracting the post from a button hole and showing the wings in dotted outline in the partly opened position which they will assume after being released following partial movement through the button hole to obtain a camming action against the edges of the button hole which accelerates the removal of the button.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5- -.5 of Fig.2.. v

Fig. dis a view in perspective of the cuff link looking toward the back of the head.

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken longitudinally of the outer end of the post in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis for the wings and illustrating the means for stopping the outward swinging of the wings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a cuff of the French type, the numeral 12 designating a portion of the sleeve of which the cuff forms a part.

The two side portions of the cuff are designated 10a and 10b and may be referred to as the outer side and inner side respectively, and through these portions are formed theconventional button holes '14.

While the cuff here illustrated is of the French type, it is to be understood that the button is equally applicable to cuffs of other types or styles and for other styles of cuffs, the double thickness or fold for the French cuff as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 may be considered as a single thickness of cuff material.

The improved button or link of the present invention comprises a head which is generally designated '16 and is here illustrated as being in the form of a rectangular body having a flat rear face 18 and an ornamented outer or front face 20. Obviously, however, the head 16 may be of any desired configuration or design and carry any suitable ornamentation upon its outer side and, therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not in any respect limited to the use of a head-of the character illustrated, it being merely preferred that the rear or back face of the head be fiat or substantially so, as shown.

Fixed to the back face 18 of the head 16, preferably at the center thereof as shown, is an end of a post 21 which is perpendicular to the face 18 and the outer or free end of this post is formed in a suitable manner to provide a smooth surfaced end 22 which is preferably rounded in "the manner illustrated to have a'substantially semi-spherical form. However, while this form is preferred, it is conceivable that other forms may be given the end of the post by which the same desired results may be attained without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The post 21 may be of circular cross section, as illustrated, or of any other cross-sectional form and when circu'lar-ithas flattened faces cutin opposite sides as indicated at 23 and these flattened faces extend throughout the major portion of thelengthof the post'but terminate a substantial distance inwardly from'the free end 22 as is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. Naturally, as shown in Figs. and 6, the surfaces of the-postlying at opposite sides of the flattened portions 23 are curved or transversely rounded as indicated at 24.

The post 21 has formed therethrough the long recess 25 which opens through the flat sides or faces 23 and'this recess at its outer end is curved or arcuate forming the abutment orstop-faces 25a.

Adjacent to the outer endof the recess '25 the post 21 has mounted therein, to extend across the recess, a pivot pin 26 upon which are pivotally mounted anchor members in the form of elongate wings 27.

Each of the wings 27 has a length slightly less than the length of the recess 25 and each is of substantially U-shaped cross section, having the transversely rounded back wall a and the longitudinal side flanges -b and the rounded outer end 0.

The flanges b at the inner ends of the wings 27 are extended to form hinge ears 28 and, as shown in Fig. '5, one ear of each wing is inwardly offset while the other forms a straight continuation of the wing and these ears are overlapped, as illustrated, and are positioned within the recess 25 to have the pivot pin 26 extended therethrough whereby the wings 27 may swing from positions in which they extend laterally of :thepinand in aligned relation transversely thereofasshown in Figs. 2tand'6, to folded or closed positions in which they enter the Iecess 4 f 25 as shown in Fig. 4. With this construction of the fulcrum ends of the wings, bot-h wings may be produced with a single set of dies.

The rounded back wall a of each of the wings 27 substantially conforms to the curvature of the sides 24 of the post when the latter is of circular cross section, when the wings are pressed inwardly or collapsed into the recess 25 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 so that the edges of the button hole are only engaged or contacted by rounded surfaces as the .post is passing therethrough either in the application of the cuff link or in its removal. As also shown in Fig. 4, when the wings are collapsed into the recess, the outer surfaces of the same which are exposed will lie substantially within the major circumferential dimensions of the post.

The pivotal movement of the anchoring wings to the outwardly extended position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 is effected by the coil spring 29 which is mounted upon and encircles the pivot pin 26 and has the two straightterminal portions 29a which are oppositely directed and each of which lies within a wing member 27, bearing against the under side of the wall portion a thereof. The spring 29 'is under twist or wound tension so that it tends constantly to unwind and thus constantly maintains, by the end portions 29a, an outward pressure against the wings 27 tending to swing them to the unfolded or anchoring position. When the wings are pressed inwardly or folded into the recess 25, the tension of thespring is increased as will be readily apparent.

Since the pivotally mounted .ends of the wings 27 are disposed within the recess 25, it will be seen that when the wings 13.16 swung outwardly, the inner end of the wall portion -a will abut the end portion 25a of the recess, which end portion provides a'positive stop for the wings. Also, the wings maybe so 'formed that when extended the inner ends butt, as indicated at 2512, thus providing a further stopor movement lirniting'means. Both of these stop means may be used together or one only maybe used, if desired, as will be readily apparent.

In the application of the cuff link, it will be apparent that it is only necessary, while [holding the head of the link in the fingers, to press the rounded, or pointed tip or free end 22 of the post into the button opening 14 and after such end has passed through the opening the rounded portions a of the wings will be brought into engagement with the edge of the opening and further pressure willeffect the foldingof the wings into the recess to permit the post and wings to pass entirely through the opening. As soon as the post and wings have advanced to the position where the free ends of the wings are no longer engaged with the sides of the opening, the spring will effect theinstant opening of the wings as illustrated in Fig. 3. The end of the post can then be extended through the other opening to complete the securement together .of the two sides 10a and 10b of the cuffin .the mannerillustrated in Fig. 2.

For-the removal .of .the link, it is only necessary to .collapse or fold the wings into the recess in the manner shown in Fig. 4 and reverse the movement of the device until .the tips of the wings have passed through the open ing'whereupon it'will be seen that upon release of the wings, the tendency of .the same to open outorspread apart'will cause them to exert a carnming action against theedges of the button hole which will further facilitate the removal of the button.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is pro- .vided by the'present invention a new .and novel construction whidh provides a cuff link which can be easily and quickly. applied and removed and, because of the unique mannerin which the parts are associated, does not have any exposed edges or points'which can .catch in the material of the cuff to damage the same. Also because of the-manner in which the wings are mounted inwardly from the rounded .point or tip of the post, the link'oan daeeasily applied with one hand since the smooth rounded tip of the post readily guides it through the button opening.

The material of the cuff link can obviously be of any one of a number of different elements such as metal, plastic, or the like, and the post 21 can be formed from a solid body of material or from a tube of circular or polygonal cross sectional form and when formed of tubular material in metal, the rounded end may be obtained by cutting or slitting the end edge and turning the portions inwardly in the manner illustrated whereby there will be formed the seams 22a which can be tightly closed and smoothed as by welding, soldering or the like.

While the wings 27 have been shown and described as having the back wall a of rounded form to substantially conform to the form of the post when the latter is circular it will of course be understood that the transverse contour of the wings may be of other form, if desired, to conform to the post form.

What is claimed is:

l. A button of the character stated comprising a head having inner and outer faces, a post fixed at one end to the inner face of the head, said post having its other end reduced and tapered to a substantially rounded tip form, the post being longitudinally recessed from opposite sides through the major portion of its length, said recessed portion starting at the outer end thereof a substantial distance inwardly from said tip, a pivot pin disposed across the recessed portion inwardly from said outer end thereof, a pair of elongate longitudinally channelled wing members having adjacent ends extended into the recessed portion from opposite sides thereof and having the side portions thereof pivotally mounted in overlapping relation on the pivot pin, the wing members being adapted to swing on said pin into the recess with the channeled sides directed inwardly land in opposed relation spring means between the pivoted ends of the wings normally urging the wings to swing outwardly to an end aligned relation transversely of the post, and coacting means between the pivoted ends of the wing members limiting said outward swing of the wings to said aligned relation, said post and the wing members when swung into the post recess being of a size adapting the same for passage through a garment buttonhole.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the outer end of the recessed portion at each side of the post is substantially semi-circular in contour and the adjacent wing is externally of semi-circular convex form to fit said contour when the wing is extended, thereby forming said swing limiting means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said wings have their inner end edges for-med to come into abutting relation when the wings are in said extended relation, thereby providing said swing limiting means.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the outer end of the recessed portion at each side of the post is substantially semi-circular in contour and the adjacent wing is externally of semi-circular convex form to said wings have their inner end edges formed to come into abutting relation when the wings are in said extended relation with the back surfaces thereof fitted into the adjacent ends of the recessed portion, thereby providing said swing limiting means.

5. A button of the character stated comprising a head having inner and outer sides, a post having a fixed connection at one end to the inner side of the head and having its other end tapered off to a rounded point to facilitate its smooth entry into and extension through a buttonhole, the post being recessed from opposite sides and through the major portion of its length, the recessed portion starting a substantial distance inwardly from the tapered point, a pair of elongate wing members each having one end portion extended into the recess adjacent to the tapered point of the post, means pivotally attaching the said one end portion of each wing to the post to swing on an axis extending transversely of tile post from a laterally directed position into a position of substantial parallelism with the post, said wing members being adapted to enter and have the major portion thereof completely housed in the recess of the post throughout the length of the wings when the wings are in the said position of substantial parallelism with the post, and spring means urging said wing members to swing outwardly to said laterally directed position, said post being of substantially circular cross sectional contour and said wing members each having a transversely curved outer surface substantially conforming to the cross sectional contour of the post when the wing members are housed in the recess whereby the post assumes throughout its length from the tapered end an over-all substantially circular contour, said button being of a size adapting it for application to wearing apparel, and particularly adapting it for use as a cult link.

6. The invention according to claim 5, with stop means carried by the post for engagement with and across the outer sides of the wing members to limit the swing of each wing to said laterally extending position.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said stop means comprises an edge of the recess into which the said end portions of the wings swing in moving to the said extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,032 Kimbrell Jan. 12, 1897 640,896 Forward Jan. 9, 1900 1,209,624 Rusha Dec. 19, 1916 2,132,284 Bonham Oct. 4, 1939 2,537,235 Parry Jan. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,595 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1902 280,933 Germany Dec. 2, 1914 942,631 France Feb. 14, 1949 

